First of all, Collage rates this video as Intermediate. Its not. Since I don't post on the forums, I will say that I am a beginning (overweight) exerciser (also, I'm not an experienced reviewer! I do know that some of you have been looking for a review, though). For comparison, I find FIRM Basics Abs, Buns & Thighs to be very tough, and I sweat hard. This is not a "sweat" tape, even for me. I expected it to be a little harder. I rewind the aerobics section to do it twice.

However, I really really like this video! It is basically in two parts, the aerobics section, and the stretch/yoga/pilates section. The first section is instructed by April Underwood. It is based on a few basic moves, the "pelvic scoop" (I guess it is kind of a pelvic thrust), the "rock", where you rock back and forth and kind of "play the drums" with your hands, and some squatting. The music in the aerobics section is great. It is by a ten-piece band, and really is funky. The aerobics is way too short, and like I said, I rewind it. The choreography is very easy, I hate too much choreography, and I picked it up the first time I went through it. However, I still felt pretty funky doing the tribal/rhythmic dance. April's cuing was very good.

Next is the yoga/stretch section. The first part is led by April Underwood, and she does the mountain, warrior and tree poses. And downward dog. I have never done any yoga or yoga-type things before, and I could follow it very easily. Then it moves into Jackie Potter's section. She does more yoga/pilates stuff, most of which I could do. I could not hold "plank" for very long. She moves into some ab work where I can really feel my lower abs working (and I can feel it the next day, too). I think these must be some of the Pilates movements. At the end, there's a guided meditation.

I think this is a really fun tape, but it doesn't do too much. I think for advanced exercisers it would be really good for a rest day, and for beginners like me, it is a good add on to another workout (I added on the aerobics to a FIRM tape the other day). If I do the whole tape by itself, I feel very relaxed by the end of it.

Instructor Comments:
I really liked April Underwood. I thought she was a fun instructor. I am ambivalent about Jackie Potter. I guess she was nice and relaxing.

Brandy